Kamasami Kong, KIKI, Honolulu – September, 1980

   October 20, 2021 1:45 pm  Leave a comment

Pour yourself a Mai Tai and enjoy a Hawaiian sunset with Kamasami Kong. Listen as he takes a request from a mobile phone caller (an oddity in 1980), and together with Frank B. Shaner presents a thoughtful gift to a departing coworker, Kopé. We also hear the beginning of Kopé’s last show on KIKI. My apologies for the background static, this was recorded on Maui, about 80 miles across the ocean from the station. Aloha!

Runtime: 21:48
Kamasami Kong began his radio career in 1965 at the age of 15 in Ohio on WMOH. He moved to Hawaii and became a household name in the late 70’s. Throughout the 1980’s, as Hawaii’s premiere DJ, Kong was the most listened to broadcaster on KIKI-FM and later worked alongside Michael W. Perry on KKUA. [Hawaii.com]

Author: Sam Lawson

Student engineer at pioneer Nathan Hale radio station KNH 1210 in 1970 (prior to KNHC). Also attended North Seattle Community College and L.H. Bates in Tacoma (KTOY-FM). Sam’s career began as a KJR request line operator in 1970, with his first on-air job at KRKO in 1972. In 1976 he segued to overnights at KTAC as Cory Landon, then weekends at KING. In 1978 he moved to Lewiston, Idaho for afternoons on KOZE and KRLC. Throughout the ‘80s he was an announcer and/or engineer at "the best mix and biggest variety" of Spokane radio stations; including 97KREM, KZUN, KGA, KKER (The Sam & Pam Show), KZZU, PD of KJRB, KISC, and the voice of KAYU-TV. In 1989 he moved to Los Angeles as Assistant Chief Engineer and weekends at KZLA/KLAC. Also engineered for KBIG, KFI, Premiere Radio Networks, CBS Radio, and others. After avoiding any actual work for nearly 45 years, now happily retired and very appreciatively back in the great Pacific Northwest! --- View other articles by Sam Lawson --- Sam Lawson airchecks

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